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Sanyasi by the sea



Never do I feel the urge to give up this material world and take sanyas in the spiritual Himalayas more strongly than when I have to empty all cupboards and shelves in the house for painting or pest control or whatever.

I felt that way a couple of weeks ago when I finally got up the courage to have my house painted and let hordes of workmen in to do the job. (Workmen, as I told a friend bitterly later, are like an infestation of ants. Once they’re in, they NEVER leave.)

Lugging everything I believed I couldn’t live my life without off shelves and into suitcases and cartons, suddenly everything seemed like junk. Even my beloved books. If it hadn’t been for a tiny sliver of sense that remained as I grimly slammed cabinet doors open and slammed suitcase lids shut, I think I might just have called the kabadiwalla and ordered him to take everything away.

Later, after it was all done and I’d scrubbed the grime off myself, I didn’t feel any better. Instead I thought of the trauma of first getting the workmen out of my house and then putting all this stuff back in cupboards and on shelves and said out loud, this is it. It’s time to abandon all my material possessions and head for the hills.

And then I wondered – why hills? Really, why? Why should I be a sanyasi in the mountains? Why can’t I be a sanyasi by the sea instead?

And I laughed because really, I have changed. From the time I arrived in Bombay in 1993 to now, almost 20 years, I’ve gone from being a passionate mountain lover to a big time devotee of the sea. And back then, in 1993, I never thought that would happen.

Maybe it was just a lack of familiarity with the sea (I was a bad Calcuttan, I’ve never been to Puri ever), but I always thought that no other phenomenon of nature could awe me with its beauty the way mountains could. Like a good Calcuttan, I visited Darjeeling every year during the Pujas and every year I was stunned by the exquisiteness and majesty around me. When I visited my dad’s old school at North Point, Darjeeling, on his annual pilgrimage, I wondered how on earth anyone could concentrate on anything so mundane as studies and exams when out of the window, the Kangchenjunga loomed. And when I moved to Bombay, I knew I’d be leaving a lot that I loved behind – and one of those things was Darjeeling and the mountains.

Now… I’m not saying I don’t like mountains anymore, I do. I still think they’re stunning, they still take my breath away, but now… now I’m in love with the sea.

I love the way it murmurs and croons, the way it smells (the smell of salt in the air does something to the blood in my veins, I swear, I feel totally, completely alive), the way it dances lazily in the afternoon heat and the menace of its steel-grey heaves in the monsoon. I love the openness of horizons it gives me, stretching far, far, FAR in the distance, farther than the eye can see. I love the idea of its currents and channels and streams that can pick up something from here and deposit it thousands of miles away in a place that I may never even have heard of. I thrill in the knowledge that even the mountains were once in the sea – and there are more mountains that we don’t know of, in there. I love it that the sea is the last unexplored frontier on the face of this earth, but these last few reasons are intellectual. I just love the sea.

Passionately.

And when I finally take sanyas, that’s where you’ll find me. Not in the mountains, but by the sea.

(Though I think I’ll take my books with me.)

20 most beautiful bookstores in the world

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Posted by Kushal Rani Gulab on Thursday, February 2, 2012 at 7:22 pm 
Filed under Life, books, india · Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

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  • THE JOKER

    Mayawati and her Bahujan Party is a fraud perpetuated in name of Ambedkar and OBC/SC
    to enrich herself at the expense of the most poor of the society. GOD save the people of UP.

    [Reply]

  • Anonymous

    I hate both BSP and SP but not more than Congress..so I pray to god that SP or BSP come back to power in 2012..because if congress comes back to power, UP will go back in time by 30 years…

    [Reply]

    Saron Reply:
    October 5th, 2011 at 2:50 pm

    Don’t see it happening — congress in power in UP

    [Reply]

  • http://www.facebook.com/bappam Bappa Mukherjee

    SA wrote: “Question today is which party can give good governance in UP?” Unfortunately, good governance is not a priority for any of the political parties in UP where they exploit religion and caste affiliations to divide and mobilize voters. Things have gotten so bad that the venality of candidates is generally not enough to disqualify them from running for office. An ex-IAS officer of the UP cadre, Mr. P.L. Punia is a classic example. He was known as an acolyte of Mayawati during her earlier reign and her Mr moneybags. Any impartial investigation into his assets under the Prevention of Corruption Act would land this man behind bars. Instead, he trots around as a leader of the Scheduled Castes by the Congress and nobody thinks to inquire into his background. This lack of alternatives is the problem that is eating into the vitals of Indian democracy. Just because he has won an election, we are supposed to respect people like him. Anna Hazare’s movement has launched a bold experiment to intervene in this process as veto players where they vet candidates based on their position on the Lok Pal bill like pressure groups in the US. For example, the Americans for Tax Reform has ensured that most Republicans running for elective office sign a pledge not to raise taxes. This is just the beginning.

    [Reply]

    Saron Reply:
    October 5th, 2011 at 2:49 pm

    Its a beginning, hopefully in the right direction

    [Reply]

  • http://twitter.com/amishra77 Akhilesh Mishra

    That a “sea” city like Mumbai has taken almost 20 years to wean you away from the love of the mountains is a testament to the shockingly abysmal condition of most of the beaches in Mumbai. I actually cry every time I see them, especially the Juhu beach, presumably the creme dela creme.

    However, should you choose sanyas in say Goa or Andamans or Pondichery, then do let some of the bhakts know so that we can have darshan once a while :)

    [Reply]

  • http://twitter.com/amishra77 Akhilesh Mishra

    That a “sea” city like Mumbai has taken almost 20 years to wean you away from the love of the mountains is a testament to the shockingly abysmal condition of most of the beaches in Mumbai. I actually cry every time I see them, especially the Juhu beach, presumably the creme dela creme.

    However, should you choose sanyas in say Goa or Andamans or Pondichery, then do let some of the bhakts know so that we can have darshan once a while :)

    Akhilesh

    [Reply]

  • Kushal

    It’ll more likely be Hong Kong, Akhilesh.It was on a trip to HK in 2004 from deadly dry Delhi that I realised how much I loved the sea.

    [Reply]

  • Parmanu

    This reminded me of our walk along the Marine drive, that lovely evening in Jan 2010.

    I’ve never lived by the sea, but I’m certain that I’ll love it. For precisely the reasons you outline.

    [Reply]

    Kushal Reply:
    February 7th, 2012 at 6:54 am

    Yep, you get it, Parmanu. Grin.

    [Reply]

  • Anamika

    You cannot…you must not do that

    Not after sharing those amazing bookstores….

    Retire to one of those. I’m sure they’ll take a bookophile (is there word like that?) very gladly as one of their permanent residents :)

    [Reply]

    Kushal Reply:
    February 27th, 2012 at 6:13 am

    Well… *Weakens*… Maybe I can be a sanyasi by the sea with a bookstore?

    [Reply]

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_URSXATBEMZ7HUAB3OH36PLYWDM Ashok

    How else would someone get an education, except by reading a book ?

    [Reply]

  • Aleena

    Why are lahoris and Karachitees going against each other? Please stop. we all belong to one country, which is Pakistan and lets just appreciate what we have and work towards a better future. In addition, I personally feel both cities are beautiful and have their own perks and downfalls like any other place in the world. And just because our families are from one city it doesn’t mean we have the right to bash other cities of Pakistan.

    [Reply]

  • Guest

    This man is obviously arabized as many of his ilk are. They are just too weak to resist the power of arabization.

    [Reply]

    Mohd Inam ullah Reply:
    June 14th, 2012 at 7:51 am

    You are in gross ignorance….you are blaming arabs when right under your nose there are rapes specially in Rape Capital Delhi …I mean India’s capital….
    19,348 rapes were done in 2006 (2 rapes per minute)….. compare this with crime rate of Arabia…specially Saudi where a rapist is given harsh punishment and those who want to do the same crime think 1000 times before they want to commit it….in India if you do 10 rapes or 10 murders you get bail ….

    [Reply]

    Anonymous Reply:
    June 14th, 2012 at 4:03 pm

    The Saudi king’s son was arrested in Ldonon for trying to rape and molest a male servant and then finally killing him. Very pure in your eyes!!
    Had it been Riyadh, a conspiracy theory would have been cooked upt that a zionist was trying to attack the prince and the brave prince single handedly killed an armed attacker, barehanded !! And you would have bowed down in admiration!

    [Reply]

  • Guest

    An arabized mind finds reality inconvenient so it invents a parallel world where everything is a Zionist , crusader or infidel plot.

    [Reply]

    Mohd Inam ullah Reply:
    June 14th, 2012 at 7:05 am

    An Indian Slave mind finds everything given by west as heavenly so no questions….as far as 9/11 is concerned just check specially the pentagon claim that Plane that attacked pentagon melt into air……if you know anything about metals and the degree at which they melt then you will question them how come a whole plane melt at such low degree…and even in WTC the steel used was so powerful that it will not go down unless bombs used for soft demolition are used…..just check the engineering videos on youtube which refute US claims that only planes hit brought down WTC….and why should i say anything just check the black sins of mossad if you think zionist are so clean…..even India is a slave of US and Israel so you see that even though USA is so bad in economy still it manages to keep its paper tiger on top (read Dollar)….wake up from your slumber.

    [Reply]

  • Guest

    Sure. The write has already had his say by writing this article. Now the people are having their say. This is classical freedom of expression. Is this unislamic or something for you?

    [Reply]

  • Guest

    This article seems to be based on a “profound” philosophy which goes like this
    “retrograde laws in sharia are ok since in reality other religions also practice the same retrograde laws”

    What’s conveniently left out is that other religious followers may follow retrograde ways in their personal lives regarding child marriage but their laws do not allow them under the Indian constitution. What zia is suggesting is the institutionalization of retrograde Islamic laws for Muslims in India.

    I find it hard to believe that an educated person would take such a stance. It’s totally disgusting.

    [Reply]

  • Anonymous

    I think is another blow to the idea of secular India. This is throwing acid on the foundations of our country. That in the name of minority appeasement, the Government of UPA is willing t sell decency, human rights, women’s rights, children’s rights. It is willing to send girls to, what would qualify as child sex abuse in many countries.

    Shame on UPA.

    Shame on Zia for forgetting the rights of girls. What is the use of your education zia? What is the use of working for a national daily like HT, when you want to peddle the most fanatic ideas.

    SO the idea of getting Seema Chisti and Seema Mustapha in journalism is going to be dead now.

    The idea of getting Sania Mirza’s will be over now.

    The idea of India is going to be dictated by illiterate goons who claim that all that is good is written in this book and if you disagree we wil kill you.

    That before 7th centruy jahils existed on this planet. they were no dinosaurs. There was no religion.

    Ho !! Hum!! What trash…

    [Reply]

  • Anonymous

    If there is a difference between humans and lambs why dont you question why Muslim women worldover have the lowest literacy.
    Why dont you ask yourself why Islam welcomes people in but kills people who want to convert out of it.
    mr Lamb, have you asked yourself why Ahemdis, Qadinis, Sikhs, HIndus and Christians are killed in Pakistan?

    [Reply]

    Mohd Inam ullah Reply:
    June 14th, 2012 at 7:23 am

    Even in India there is low literacy rate thanks to the politicians who dont want to make the common man thinkable similarly where ever the women are low in literacy it is fault of the rulers or the followers or lack of facilities…as far as Islam is concerned it makes mandatory for every male and female to acquire knowledge….famous saying Talabul ilmun farizatun ala kulli muslimin wa muslimatin…Acquiring knowledge is obligatory on every muslim male and female…even the first revelation of the last and final book was Iqra(meaning Read)….so there is no question of Islam prohibiting women …in case of methodlogy Islam does not guide us to get degrees for syllabus designed by Macaulay(During british rule)…..syllabus can change as per needs of the times and needs…if you see early scientist many of them are muslims…..
    http://scienceislam.com/muslims_science.php

    [Reply]

    vijay ! Reply:
    June 14th, 2012 at 8:09 am

    So you feel married girls at 15 will get better knowledge?

    Why dont you see the world form the eyes of a 15 year old girl in a burqa who could be a fourth wife all because of an outdated anti human rights personal law .

    Please don’t say that it rarely happens because it does happen. If Islam makes it obligatory for women to have knowledge than the people who propagate retrograde ideas like marriage at 15 have only got the wrong knowledge.

    [Reply]

  • meena

    Its irrelevant that media made it a big issue the fact remains that Islam allows under age marriages..it is also irrelevant that most mmuslims do not marry their daughters under 18 years…they still can if their law permits…what are you trying to say here..

    [Reply]

  • meena

    It is irrelevant whether media made this an issue the fact remains that Muslim law allows underage marriages..it is also irrelevant that most Muslims do not marry thedir daughters at 16..but this does not change the fact that the law permits and therefore they can if they want..dont defend the indefensible

    [Reply]

  • engrich

    goverment should intervene in 99%of muslim countries women marriage age is 18,

    [Reply]

  • Anonymous

    The nonsense about Saudi purity!
    On of the myths many Muslims suffer from is that they have at least 1% Saudi blood in them. This is a sort of lie which is used to make them feel that Saudi blood is superior. If you read the tales of Mohammad of Ghazni, Nadir Shah, Ghouri… none of them came ot India with women.
    All of the women were captured on the way. Or maybe they fell in love with the soldiers. Fair enough– this is the charitable version.
    But the fact is that there is HIndu blood in the Muslims of india. If you go by one invading horseman marring a local woman– then it is 50-50. But in cae the progeny later again married and mated with a local– then it becoms 75 % HIndu and 25% Muslim.
    So Mr Inam … have a look at real history, rather than imagined propoganda.
    The Saudi king’s son was arrested in Ldonon for trying to rape and molest a male servant and then finally killing him. Very pure in your eyes!!

    Had it been Riyadh, a conspiracy theory would have been cooked upt that a zionist was trying to attack the prince and the brave prince single handedly killed an armed attacker, barehanded !! And many rote learners of Saudi surperiority would have bowed down in admiration

    [Reply]

  • Anita

    The funny thing is that marraige is not void even for underage Hindu, Sikh or other Muslim couples if the minor partners don’t ask for an annulment. It is not a Muslim personal law thing.
    In almost all western countries, the age of consent to have sex is from 13 in Japan to 16 in most European countries. Yet, the idea is that they are mature enough to understand and emotionally have sex but not marry? Infact, most states in the US and some western European countries even allow marriage of teenagers under 18 but older than 16 if Parental consent is provided.

    Also, the case here is that the girls parent DID NOT want the girl to get married. They were opposed to the marriage and did not provide parental consent. So I don’t see how even under Muslim personal law this is possible because parental consent is required for minor girls.

    [Reply]

  • AG

    “…..But most people in Karachi are like me and you…….. They drink Vodka, snort cocaine and hook up sex dates on the Internet.
    !!!! Excuse me, have you realized what a minute percentage of people do this compared to the population of karachi! Certainly that’s not the description of “most people”.

    [Reply]